America's forsaking the Word of God

What God Says

Have you ever walked along the beach, waded into the waves, having a cut or scrape on your leg that stings like a bee? Why? Because saltwater is an antiseptic. But when you come out of the water the abrasion to your flesh will be on the road to healing.

Salt heals many things from a sore throat, to mouth sores, to a scraped toe. Salt will clean your teeth. Salt will preserve meat and it flavors food.

Jesus said to those who trust Him for salvation, “You are the salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13). I am to be a fragrant flavor of Truth in the lives of others. Problem is I forget that I ‘m salt. I’d rather be oil. Instead of penetrating lives and preventing spoil, I’d rather duck, cover, and run.

I’m instructed to speak words of healing. Words that will direct people to the only One who can forgive their sins, restore their lives, and put them on the straight path toward an intimate relationship with Christ.

There are folks within my sphere of influence whose lives are train wrecks. They stumble along with hearts and minds that are injured and bleeding—suffering from the consequences of wrong thinking and rebellious acts toward God. I am to sprinkle, not saturate,the salt of the Word of God onto their lives. It may sting as I speak those salty truths, but God’s truth heals.

Jesus warned, “If the salt has become tasteless, it is good for nothing except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men” (Matthew 5:13). Has my life become tasteless from the lack of speaking the truth of the Word? I have been guilty of being more afraid of hurting a friend’s feelings than helping them find the path that leads them to obedience and salvation.

Jesus said I am to “judge myself so that I will not be judged” (Matthew 7:1-5). The salt of His truth stings deep and causes me great pain when I realize my thoughts and actions toward Him and towards others are out-of-balance with His Word.

In Deuteronomy 30:1-3 God told Israel, “. . . when all these things have come upon you, the blessing and the cursing which I have set before you and you call them to mind in all nations where the Lord your God has banished you, and you return to the Lord your God and obey Him with all your heart and soul according to all that I command you today, you and your sons, then the Lord your God will restore you from captivity, and have compassion on you, and will gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you.” (Emphasis added)

Jesus said, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I John1:9).

The good news of the gospel is “it’s not three strikes and I’m out.” That’s a lie from the pit of hell that I believed for years. The moment I turn from actions and thoughts in rebellion to God’s Word, confess them as sin, and make the choice to walk in obedience to His Word, He forgives me, cleans me up, and restores my life. Regardless of the sins I’ve committed because that’s what He promised to do, because of the blood Jesus shed for me. And unlike me, God always keeps His promises.

DiAne is an artist, writer, photographer, and GriefShare facilitator who also leads an adult edit group for North Texas Christian Writers, LifeSavers is for adults who are serious about their writing skills.
DiAne's YA novel "Roped" released by Prism Book Group was named a YA finalist for the Grace Awards, finaled in The Christian Literary Henri Awards for 2016, and was named #5 in The Top Ten Christian Reads for Teens and Tweens 2016.
The second book, TWISTED, in the Roped Series was released by Pelican Book Group, July 14, 2017. Both are available on Amazon.com. Be sure to check DiAne's blog, "Moving the Ancient Boundaries" at https://dianegates.wordpress.com/